The Taishin Dojo smelled of sweat, wood, and steel. Wooden dummies lined the walls, split from countless strikes, and the floorboards were grooved with the weight of generations. Lightning from the storm outside filtered through the slats, flashing across Juno Arkai as he stood before his master.
Juno's dark hair clung to his forehead with sweat. His shirt clung to his back. His bandaged fists trembled not from exhaustion, but from urgency. His sharp eyes burned with something he could no longer contain.
He dropped into a bow.
"Master… teach me that technique."
Across from him, Master Vince grinned lazily. His gi was torn at the sleeves, muscles cut like stone, his long hair falling in messy strands over his face. Behind the sunglasses, his hidden gaze seemed to weigh Juno with more force than any blow.
"You're too impatient, Juno."
The words struck him like a wall, but Juno refused to back down. His voice cracked, raw, desperate.
"I have to!! I'm still too weak—"
